Fine structure of inclusion bodies in hepatic cells of chickens naturally affected with inclusion body hepatitis

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Abstract
The fine structure of intranuclear inclusion bodies in the hepatic cells of chickens naturally affected with inclusion body hepatitis was studied by comparing them with the inclusions seen with light microscopy. Ultrastructurally the inclusions were classified into 2 types depending on whether they contained virus particles or not. The 1st type consisted of virus particles, granular material and loose granular material and sometimes concentric-circular lamellae enclosing the virus core. The virus particles are probably adenoviruses. This type corresponded to the basophilic inclusions seen with light microscopy. The 2nd type was without virus particles and was subdivided into 2 forms, one consisting of fibrillar-granular material and the other of crystals composed of filaments. These corresponded to the eosinophilic inclusions seen with light microscopy. Eosinophilic inclusions were present in all 20 cases of inclusion body hepatitis, but the basophilic inclusions were present in only 6. The presence of adenovirus particles might suggest that they are the etiology of this condition, although they were present in only 6 of the 20 cases examined. The significance of the inclusions without viral particles was not adequately elucidated, but they probably are degenerating material present in cells dying from the effects of the viral infection.